Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 11, 2026
Author Spotlight: Assessing Surgical Frailty with Point-of-Care Ultrasound of Quadriceps Muscles
Published on: July 26, 2024
Association between Age-Friendly Environment, Sarcopenia and Frailty among Older Adults in China: A Longitudinal
Xuan Li1, Zhi-Cheng Yang2, Hao Li3
1National Key Laboratory for Innovation and Transformation of Luobing Theory, The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chinese National Health Commission and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Department of Cardiology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China; Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Key Laboratory of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine of Shandong Province, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China.
Background:
Sarcopenia and frailty are interrelated complex geriatric syndromes that are associated with an increased risk of negative health outcomes. The construction of an age-friendly environment (AFE) is a key strategy for promoting health aging, but its associations with sarcopenia and frailty remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the association between AFE and the incidence of sarcopenia and frailty in older adults.
Methods:
A total of 3,261 participants aged ≥60 years were included from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Using a World Health Organization (WHO) AFE framework modified for Chinese context, we constructed an 8-domain, 35-component community environment score. Sarcopenia was defined according to the 2019 consensus guidelines by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia, while frailty status was assessed using the frailty index (FI). The longitudinal association between AFE score and the risk of developing incident sarcopenia and frailty was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression models.
Results:
Over a 4-year follow-up, 297 (9.10%) participants developed sarcopenia; and participants with sarcopenia had a higher FI. Compared to the lowest quartile of AFE scores, participants in the highest AFE quartile had a 46% lower risk of incident sarcopenia (HR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.38-0.77) and a 27% lower risk of incident frailty (HR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.60-0.90), even after comprehensive confounding adjustment. Subgroup analyses showed a significant interaction between independent ADL and AFE was observed for sarcopenia, while significant interactions by residence and health status were observed for frailty.
Conclusions:
Our findings underscore that constructing an age-friendly environment is of great significance for the prevention of incident sarcopenia and frailty among older adults in China.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
01:27Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
01:19The Effect of Aging on Tissues
01:00Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Distribution
01:18Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion
01:09Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...